Colonialism?

Question

what are the advantages of colonialism?

Answer 1

Really difficult to answer this in a positive light, in terms of advantages. I've only known the disadvantages. As a decendant of a colonised people, the colonisers have done nothing but harm to our people. Indigenous peoples worldwide who have been 'colonised' now have the highest rates of negative statistics in every colonised country. That is a fact. High unemployment, low income levels, poor health, low educational achievement, etc. etc. Colonisers taking away the land, negating the culture, imposing foreign values and beliefs (and Christianity) on an already thriving society with its own values and beliefs, has in many countries been a disaster. The advantages were all in the realm of the coloniser not the colonised.

Answer 2

To answer this question you need to look at it from the perspective of the people that lived at that time.  Most importantly, the economic perspective.  Mercantilism was the economic rule that went hand in hand with Colonialism.  Mercantilism stipulates that "the prosperity of a nation depends upon its supply of capital, and that the global volume of trade is 'unchangeable'."  With this in mind it becomes quite obvious that if the world's economy is seen as a "fixed" pie, that it must become the competing pie eaters' goal to get as much of it as possible, despite the costs.  As Adam Smith proposed his new economic hypothesis in the late 18th century, however, Mercantilism and Colonialism began its decline.  When the American colonies had their revolutionary war soon-there-after the negative aspects of colonialsm became all to apparent.  The Imperialist Colonial nations began to realize that the cost of defense (from internal descent or from external competitors) and the  governmental management of colonies far outweighed the benefits of trade with these colonies.  To cut the colonial tethers was by no means a certain death of the trade routes that they had established during colonial times, nor that their resource exploitation need necessarily end and a new economic era and the reduction of colonialism was ushered in.  Between the mid 19th century to the mid 20th century these colonial ties were systematically cut and attempts were made to leave behind a concept of "responsible governemnet" and the introduction of democratic models as these types of governments would eventually make the most stable trading partners.  Some countries like The US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Kenya and India have found relative success as democratic models.   Others Like Zimbabwe, The Congo, Uganda, Vietnam, Burma... etc have had more turbulence and difficulty in this transition.

Anyways, in the day the advantage was in winning the pie eating contest.  The cons quickly outweighed the pros.  It is interesting to note, however, that despite the expense of maintaining this colonial empire, those who did it best have experienced considerable residual benefits.  The winner of the Pie eating contest, England, now has their language as the dominant Global tongue which dominates the world's business realm.  English is the only Language that you could travel anywhere in the world with and find someone that you can at least communicate in a rudimentary manner.  The runner ups in this contest, The French, Spanish, Danish and Portuguese have also maintained relationships with some of their previous colonies, although the benefits of these relationships is not as apparent as those that the British have retained with the likes of the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Answer 3

You get to increase the size of your nation, and also, you may be able to use them as a source of income, natural resources, etc.

Answer 4

helps to sell finished prouctd at higher ratesand purchase raw material at cheaper rates

Answer 5

Colonialism was of benefit to colonising nations mainly in that it offered access to resources.  Colonial powers wanted to acquire spices, gems, lumber, etc.  Commercial ventures were closely associated with emerging colonies.

Securing a colony often required a military presence to be maintained.  A naval presence protected shipping lanes.  This enabled colonial powers to project military power on a global scale.

For a colonised nation, it brought technology, security and economic benefits at the price of independence.  For many colonies the price was higher; witness the atrocities committed by colonial powers over the years.

I hope this helps your question.

Answer 6

Development and prosperity are the advantages of colonialism.

All developed countries except the oil rich countries of the world got to the current position they enjoy by the help pf colonization.  This is true in the case of Japan, America, Australia , Canada and other European countries.

The prosperity develops across the globe at the same rate.  By colonizing one steal the prosperity of another.  This was one can also generalize all poor countries were the result of colonization

Japan kept china and some parts of Korea under it.

Major European countries kept colonies in Africa and Asia.  The lesser nations of the Europe did business with these “thief” countries and received a part of the stolen prosperity and they are also developed now

Americans, Canadians and Australians simple stole the entire nation by colonization and the original inhabitants are left with no prosperity and diminished in numbers as well.

Russia, Brazil, India and China never had any colonies.  Incredibly as the day of stolen prosperity are over, these countries are coming back economically.  They will enjoy the top positions within next 30 yrs as per world bank study.

Answer 7

To OceanOfNotion,

Were do you get your facts?? Russia actually had colonies in North America in the early 1800s.  I'm not so sure the people of Kazakhstan, Georgia (not the one near Florida), Armenia, Lithuania, Estonia, etc. etc. etc., would agree with your opinion.

As for China.  Have you ever heard of a place called Tibet?? Probably can't find it on a map anymore.  Used to be an independent country until the 1950s.  

Brazil shares the same "guilt" as America, Canada, and Australia, only it was the Portuguese and not the British or French the colonized Brazil.  I doubt some of the Amazon tribes feel any better treated by Brazil than the Australian Aborigines or the Native Americans feel treated by their colonizers.

Japan tried on several occasions to create colonies, and as you suggest even succeeded for a while in Korea and China.  But Japan's biggest economic success came after they lost WWII and had to give up all their colonies, including some islands to the north of Hokkaido to Russia.  Many people in Japan feel the Russians are illegal occupiers of these islands.

Get your facts straight!

Don't get me wrong.  I am not defending colonialism.  It has all the benefits that the others have suggested, but all-in-all it has created more pain and suffering and turmoil than economic benefit.